England's injury woes continued during the Melbourne Test as pacer Gus Atkinson was seen clutching his hamstring during the second day of the match. He had helped England pick up the first wicket of the day in the form of Scott Boland, who knicked his delivery straight into the hands of wicketkeeper Jamie Smith.
However, he picked up a hamstring issue soon after and eventually had to walk off the field. England Cricket later confirmed that Atkinson had felt soreness in his left hamstring and thus had to leave the field.
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“Gus Atkinson left the field after bowling his fifth over this morning, having felt some soreness in his left hamstring. He’ll be assessed over the next few hours. Wishing you the best, Gus," England Cricket posted on X.
England's severe injury problems
If Atkinson does get ruled out from the fifth Ashes Test, then it will be nothing short of a massive blow for England. This is due to the fact that they have already lost Jofra Archer for the remainder of the series after he sustained a side strain heading into the fourth Test. Mark Wood had also been ruled out of the series earlier on after he had suffered a knee injury during the first Test in Perth.
Atkinson had looked to be in good form during the Melbourne Test as he had recorded figures of 2/28 in Australia's first innings and had then played a valiant cameo of 28, somehow taking England over the 100-run mark. However, the hamstring injury can bring his tour to an abrupt end ahead of the final Test in Sydney.
England end an almost 15-year drought
Meanwhile, England managed to record their first Test victory on Australian soil since 2011 in Melbourne. They defeated the hosts by four wickets as the Boxing Day Test came to a conclusion in just two days. Though the Three Lions have already lost the Ashes after being defeated in the first three Tests, this was a much-needed win for them and it will act as a major confidence booster heading into the fifth Test.